Environmental protection: combating serious crime. Framework Decision. Initiative Denmark

The committee adopted the report (consultation procedure) by Giuseppe DI LELLO FINUOLI (EUL/NGL, I) approving, with amendments, the Kingdom of Denmark's initiative with a view to the adoption of a framework decision on combating serious environmental crime. The amendments were mainly of a technical and linguistic nature with the aim of improving and clarifying the text in places. The committee also wanted to introduce a provision whereby punishment for serious environmental crimes should not be barred under the statute of limitations in cases where the nature of the crime meant that it could only be detected after a longer period of time. In addition, the report called for the decisions of courts and other bodies to be made available to the public, on the grounds that publishing information on environmental crime would contribute to public awareness and help prevent environmental damage.�